Extension Notebook: Attack of the birds

Spring is in the air. Grass is greening, spring flowers blooming, and many birds are returning. Sometimes, a few birds may appear to have partied too hard while they were wintering down south. These are the birds that fly headlong into your home’s windows, or periodically flutter or peck at the glass. Some studies estimate that millions of birds die each year from collisions with windows.

There are two basic reasons for this behavior. In the first case, male birds are establishing their territories. This most often occurs with cardinals or robins, and may take place for several weeks in the spring. When a male sees his reflection in the glass, he sees it as an intruder. He tries to fight the imaginary intruder, and will repeatedly attack the glass. .

In the second case, a bird may be flying from a predator. A large glass window may appear to be an escape route. If the bird is flying at full speed, injury or death of the bird may be the outcome.

Where birds are pecking or fluttering around glass in the spring, the easiest thing to do is wait a few weeks. This activity usually stops after mating season. Reducing the window reflectivity may alleviate attacking problems. First, identify which windows seem to have recurring bird problems. Go outside and see if the window reflects more at different times of the day. Also check if there is a window on the opposite wall of the house, to appear as if birds would have fly-through passage.

There are several methods of safeguarding your windows and the birds, as well. Turning on inside lights during dusk or nighttime hours may help. Window screens are beneficial. Other options to reduce reflection are planting trees next to windows, installing awnings, and altering drapes or blinds.

If aesthetics are not a major concern, placing sheets of paper or stickers of predator birds on windows may work. The bird stickers don’t scare other birds away, but they do reduce reflectivity. These are more effective if they are placed on the outside portion of the window. Spraying the outside glass with a soapy solution and allowing it to dry will also help reduce external reflections.

Temporarily placing bird netting over problem windows will reduce collisions, and should protect birds that fly into windows from being seriously hurt. This type of netting should be 5/8 inch or less, to keep birds from getting entangled.

If a bird feeder is close to a window that gets attacked or flown into, move the feeder to a new location farther away. If this is not an option, move the feeder closer to the window. This may not prevent collisions, but may keep birds from attaining a high enough speed to cause injury.

If a bird does fly into a window and appears injured, do not immediately try to pick it up. It may just be stunned, and may revive and fly away after a few minutes. Keep children and pets away from an injured bird. If a bird does appear to be alive but injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center. Also keep in mind that it is technically illegal to handle federally protected migratory birds without a permit.

Duane Friend is State Master Naturalist Coordinator and Climate Specialist.